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Please keep the entry relevant to the UK market and include facts, figures and testimonials to strengthen your entry. Entries that focus on another market outside the UK will be marked down or disqualified.

CRN reserves the right to move an entry to another category if the judges see fit, and also to drop categories that are not adequately entered. DO NOT go over the 1,200 word count (judges’ discretion does count).

THIS YEAR WE ARE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING ALTERNATIVE STYLE ENTRIES to the standard block of text – this can be in the form of a video or PDF to really make your entry stand out. Feel free to use pictures, these do not count towards the word count.

You can still submit text entries, you won’t be penalised for doing so, but the option is there to be more creative with your entry if you so wish. Also do not feel you have to address the criteria in a formulaic manner, you can include them in any order you like and you don’t have to divide the entry into a Q&A style entry either.

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to reseller and vendor partners in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Cloud Distributor of the Year

Open to distributors that have developed a dedicated cloud business either for one particular vendor, or a growing stable of vendors, and are helping resellers either get into cloud services, or further develop their cloud offerings. The ability to aggregate multiple cloud solutions and simplify the confusion surrounding the amount of cloud technology in the market, will also be taken into account.

Entrants must prove that they have assisted their reseller and vendor partners to build a profitable business in 2016, and are really adding value around cloud services.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and provide stats and figures to describe the size of your business in this category – ie turnover and growth, and any investment made in this area of your business over the past 12 months.

• Provide evidence of the value provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why does your business stand out from the competition in this category? What successful campaigns have you run (using MDF) that has borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners?

• Outline any particular cloud-focused initiatives that you have launched or that you run/develop each year which helps resellers maximise sales and keep their customers happy, but which also appeals to your vendor partners. This can include licensing, credit facilities, support, training, logistics and of course, events.

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that show real value-add? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where you have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Security Distributor of the Year

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to resellers in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Security Distributor of the Year The category is aimed at distributors offering security solutions, including hardware, software or peripherals within the security arena. Entrants must prove how they have assisted their reseller and vendor partners to build a profitable business in 2016.

Entrants can either be fully dedicated to security, or have a security division within their overall business.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and provide stats and figures to describe the size of your business in this category – ie turnover and growth and any investment made in this area of your security business over the past 12 months.

• Provide evidence of the value provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why does your business stand out from the competition in this category? What successful campaigns have you run (using MDF) that has borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners?

• Outline any particular security focused initiatives that you have launched or that you run/develop each year which helps resellers maximise sales and keep their customers happy, but which also appeals to your vendor partners. This can include licensing, credit facilities, support, training, logistics and of course, events.

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that show real value-add? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where you have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify.

Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Storage Distributor of the Year

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to reseller and vendor partners in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Storage Distributor of the Year The award is open to all distributors that operate within the storage marketplace, be that software, hardware or peripherals or even cloud-based/datacentre storage.

Distributors must show how they have helped reseller and vendor partners grow and maintain profitable business in 2016. Entrants can be fully dedicated to storage, or have a storage division within their overall business.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and provide stats and figures to describe the size of your business in this category – ie turnover and growth, and any investment made in this area of your storage business over the past 12 months.

• Provide evidence of the value provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why does your business stand out from the competition in this category? What successful campaigns have you run (using MDF) that has borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners?

• Outline any particular storage-focused initiatives that you have launched or that you run/develop each year which helps resellers maximise sales and keep their customers happy, but which also appeals to your vendor partners. This can include licensing, credit facilities, support, training and logistics.

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that show real value-add? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where you have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify.

Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Specialist Distributor of the Year

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to resellers in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Specialist Distributor of the Year

The category is open to distributors that are focused on a ‘specialist’ area of the market that often gets ignored – such as specific product sets, product areas and skills. Any distributor that considers itself a true ‘specialist’ can enter – (50 per cent or more of their business is dedicated to this particular specialism), and must show how it has helped its resellers to develop and grow profitable business in 2016.

*DISCLAIMER NOTE: Companies that the judges consider too broadline or not specialist enough, or eligible to enter the other distribution categories, may not be shortlisted and could be moved to different categories at the judges’ request. Entry Criteria: Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why you should be considered as a specialist distributor in your chosen field - provide stats and figures to describe the size of your specialist business, and why you fit into this category rather than the other categories on offer.

• Provide evidence of the value provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why does your business stand out from the competition in this category? What successful campaigns have you run (using MDF) that has borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners?

• Outline any particular initiatives that you have launched or that you run/develop each year which helps resellers maximise sales and keep their customers happy, but which also appeals to your vendor partners. This can include licensing, credit facilities, support, training and logistics.

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that show real value add? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where you have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Services Distributor of the Year

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to resellers in that area of the market, taking into account general distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Services Distributor of the Year

This category is open to all distributors that consider themselves to be a true value added services player. Services could include bespoke order fulfilment, vendor programme building, online support, logistics services, credit and finance services, training, technical support , or a mix of any the above and more.

*DISCLAIMER: Any cloud service-based entries will automatically be moved to the Cloud Distributor category and may not be shortlisted.

Entry Criteria: Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category – give examples of service growth/turnover, and any investment made in this area of your business over the past 12 months.

• Provide evidence of the value provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year through your services – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why do your services stand out from the competition in this category? What services do you offer that have borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners as well as your own business?

• Outline any particular service-based initiatives that you have launched or that you run/develop each year which helps resellers maximise sales and keep their customers happy, but which also appeals to your vendor partners.

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that show real value-add? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where your services have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business.

But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Emerging Technology Distributor of the Year

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to reseller and vendor partners in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Emerging Technology Distributor of the Year

Open to distributors that class themselves as true incubators of technology that is new and disruptive to market. The ability to identify new technology trends and harness them to benefit their business and that of their partners will also be taken into account. Entrants must prove that they have assisted their reseller and vendor partners to build a profitable business in 2016 using this technology.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and why your business is classed as a technology incubator. Feel free to provide some examples of the technology that you have brought to market in the past year.

• Describe how that technology has been helped by you to be a success in the UK market. Were you the first to spot it? How did you discover the technology? Why have you invested in it? How does it fit into your portfolio? What successful campaigns have you run with the technology that has borne fruit for both your reseller and vendor partners?

• Do you have examples of outstanding service provision from your teams in this area that have really helped this technology take off? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where you have helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All products and intiatives must have been new or further developed in the qualifying period of July 2015-July 2016. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Distribution Innovation Award – NEW!

Eligibility

Is this the Award for you?

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to reseller and vendor partners in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Distribution Innovation Award

Open to distributors who have overseen true innovation in their field over the past year – this can be the launch of a new event that has benefited its partners and customers, a new platform to aggregate technologies, a new finance scheme, the launch of a new team that has made life easier for partners or anything that can be classed as true innovation in its field.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Outline why you are entering this category and why you feel your particular innovation deserves recognition. Please describe what the innovation is, how it came about and how it works within your business.

• Provide evidence of the value this innovation has provided to both your reseller partners and your vendor partners over the past year – use stats and growth figures to back up points. Why do you stand out from the competition? Have you run any particularly unusual campaigns or events to promote this innovation.

• How have your internal teams contributed to this innovation – has anyone been particularly outstanding? How have they overcome any challenges? How do they operate?

• Pick a particularly successful reseller or vendor case study demonstrating where your particular innovation has helped them grow their business/grow their channel presence, supported by figures and testimonials from the chosen partner. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Award Name

Distributor of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: If you are shortlisted for an award you are required to present IN PERSON at Incisive Media's Haymarket Office in October.

Distributor Awards

The Distributor Awards will recognise the overall service and support provided to resellers in that area of the market, taking into account product focus and choice, availability and distribution services, pre- and post-sales support, market development assistance and online capabilities.

Distributor of the Year

This category is open to all distributors that feel they have done a particularly outstanding job over the past 12 months that deserves the top accolade at the CRN awards. Any distributor, regardless of size, specialisation or focus is eligible to enter this award.

Entry Criteria:

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone –try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

• Demonstrate why you feel you qualify for the Distributor of the Year Award, use stats and figures to back up your claims and convince the judges you deserve to win.

• What has your business achieved in the past 12 months that makes it stand out from the competition? ie This can be a mix of initiatives launched to help your customers maximise their business, reorganisation of reseller/vendor facing teams, exceptional service in a difficult or challenging situation, significant expansion of the business through organic or acquisitive growth, or simply punching above your weight in terms of business offerings and most of all results. Back up all claims with stats and figures.

• What has been your company’s biggest achievement over the past year? Why are you proud of it, how have your people contributed to that and what extra resources did you dedicate to achieving this success?

• Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either reseller partnership or vendor partnership) from the past year (using stats and figures again) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, and why you think it will help you win this award. A reseller/vendor testimonial can be used to back up the case study. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures – all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2016 to qualify. Distributors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 1,200.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,200 maximum word count.

Many of the UK's biggest resellers and channel firms were born at the same time, meaning in the next few years, their founders may be considering retirement. Hannah Breeze investigates what impact this will have on their businesses